Patience Is A Virtue - What Jets Fans Should Be Watching Today

Sunday night ..January 24, 2010. I remember turning off my television that night saying good-bye to the New York Jets until the 2010 season began.

If you’re like me, you woke up today more excited than ever that the day we’ve been waiting almost eight months for is finally here. Like the NFL Network commercial, I’ve got “high hopes” for this season and am chomping at the bit for the team to finally take the field.

Patience is a virtue and today the patience of Jets fans will again be tested.
Unlike the fans of 30 NFL teams - Jets fans must wait one more day.

Approximately 30 hours from now the New York Jets will finally take the field at the new Jets Stadium and host the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.

If you’re wondering whether or not it’s worth your while to watch football today the answer is most definitely .yes.

Looking back on the 2009 season, the one stat that still makes me cringe is the Jets 2-4 division record. This cannot happen again this year.

Winning the AFC East this year isn’t necessarily a given. We already know the strengths and weaknesses of the 2010 Jets. Today is the day to watch the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and yes even the Buffalo Bills and begin to get a better picture of how they will matchup against Jets when we face them in weeks 2, 3, and 4.

The Jets aren’t the only team who has seen a lot of offseason changes. There have been a lot of changes taking place throughout the AFC East. The games today will give fans a better look at our division opponents and allow us to better predict if the Jets can improve their division record this year.

DVR one game and watch another. Jets fans have a TON to watch today.

New England Patriots vs. Cincinnati Bengals - 1:00pm EST

New England Patriots a one-dimensional team? The Patriots are dealing with their own holdout this season. ProBowl guard Logan Mankins won’t be on the field today. Can Dan Connelly effectively take his place? Laurence Maroney and Fred Taylor haven’t exactly put fear in many defenses recently and the absence of Mankins can amplify that. Will the Patriots have to rely solely on their passing game and become a one-dimensional team? Will Brady have the protection needed behind the current offensive line?

Can the Patriots young’uns on defense get the job done? If you watch one thing this weekend it should be the Patriots defense. The one word to describe them is “young”. Expect them to be tested early and often. Their secondary (rookie Devin McCourty and second-year CB Darius Butler) will have their work cut out for them vs. Batman & Robin today.

Pass Rush issues: An effective pass rush was already an issue limiting the Patriots last season. It continues to be something to watch this season. Lots of pressure on rookie linebackers Brandon Spikes and Jermaine Cunningham, who by the way was injured and hasn’t played this preseason. Doesn’t take a genius to see that pass rush may still be an issue for this team.

Cedric Benson runs right: I’m expecting to see the right side of the Patriots defensive line be tested today. The Patriots will have two new starters on their defensive line when they take the field today. Gerrard Warren and Marques Murrell will play their first games in Patriots uniforms and will have their work cut out for them against a strong Cincinnati offensive line. A “run Benson run” day means a “run Greene run” game next week if you catch my drift.

Jermain Gresham: Why do you need to watch the Bengals rookie TE Gresham? No not because I’m infamously known for praising tight ends - trust me there is a method to my madness. Gresham is a dynamic tight end, he runs routes like a wide-receiver and has quickly become on e of Palmer’s favorite targets. Expect the Patriots to play a cover-2 to take care of OchoCinco and Owens down the sidelines. Can the Patriots linebackers cover Gresham? Remember the Jets have a certain #81 wearing tight-end that gives linebackers nightmares as well.

Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills - 1:00pm EST

Dolphins front seven: Will CJ Spiller run all over Miami? Out of 7 players, defensive end Kendall Langford is the only player starting in the same spot as last year. Miami Dolphins defense will have all eyes on them.

Miami’s new middle men: The Bills defensive line (Stroud, Williams, and Edwards) are strong and will be facing Miami’s new interior line Berger, Incognito and Jerry. Can the new guys step up and give help Brown and Williams put up big numbers today? For Jets fans, either outcome gives perspective; a big rushing day by Miami today means a big rushing day for the Jets on Oct 3rd. Both the Jets interior O-line and D-line can take either of these teams.

What will Trent Edwards do? Edwards may not be the most dynamic quarterback and his performance today will expose a lot about a very young Miami secondary. With the Jets having in my opinion the best secondary in the league, a good performance by Edwards today is a win-win situation for the Jets.

Brandon Marshall: I’m going to be watching Brandon’s performance for one reason only. I know Darelle Revis can cover him and Cromartie will have no problem dealing with Hartline and Bess. Buffalo had the #2 pass defense last season (mainly because many teams just ran the ball against them in the third/fourth quarters. Brandon’s performance today will start to get my wheels turning as to how the Jets passing game will perform against them in 3 weeks.

C.J Spiller: A rookie I’m very excited to watch and really wish was not in the Jets division. I’ll be interested to see how he’s used. Will he get the ball as a WR? See him on the field with Lynch and used in the slot?
The “new” (and improved?) Miami Dolphins: Just a tidbit to keep in mind. Only 6 Dolphins players from last year are playing the same position this season. They have 10 players who have two years of experience or less.

So get your jersey ready, eat some wings, watch some football and keep the Jets in the back of your mind. Today you get to enjoy football without the roller coaster of emotions that will be here before you know it.